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Detroit Paper Exposes 'Epidemic' of Starvation in Nursing Homes

December 3rd, 2004

In a special investigative series, The Detroit News uncovers what it calls a "lethal epidemic" of malnutrition and dehydration in U.S. nursing homes.

The series, titled "Starving for Care," reports that malnutrition and dehydration killed nearly 14,000 patients from 1999 to 2002. These are "victims of a silent and largely preventable epidemic caused by a breakdown in basic care," says the Michigan paper.

The investigators note that the problem often is hidden and blamed on staffing issues. Inattention has caused patients who cannot feed themselves to go without enough food and water or has allowed obvious, life-threatening problems to be overlooked. Many patients die because caregivers are too busy or inexperienced to give them the help they need.

Experts say families can help by visiting more often and choosing a nursing home carefully. The series offers advice on recognizing the signs of malnutrition and dehydration and ensuring the best care for a loved one.

In a related article, the News reports that the federal "report card" on the nation's nursing homes, Nursing Home Compare, now includes the percentage of patients who lost weight faster than doctors consider safe, an indicator that can suggest the prevalence of malnutrition. To access Nursing Home Compare, visit the Medicare Web site at www.medicare.gov

Daniel N. Steven, LLC

Daniel N. Steven is an attorney licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia. with many years of experience in complex estate planning and Elder Law. He is rated by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 rated attorney.

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Needham Mitnick & Pollack, PLC

Susan Pollack served as Chairperson of the Falls Church Senior Citizens Commission from 1997 to 2011 and was on the Executive Board of the Falls Church Education Foundation. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association of the National Capital Area and is a member of the Arlington B...

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Margaret A. O'Reilly, PC

Margaret A. O’Reilly is an estate planning and elder law attorney with over thirty-five years of legal experience. Attorney O’Reilly graduated from Duke University with a degree in psychology, and received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts. For over 15 y...

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